Ship-davit.



J. IRELAND.

Patented J an. 21, 1919.

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2. IRELAND.

SHIP DAVIT.

APPucmnou FILED MAY 25. 1am. 1,991,992. Patented Jan. 21, 1919?.

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W I 1 Jmhn irelalmi (JP- omm o o o o J. IRELAND.

SHIP DAVIT.

APPLICATION FILED'MAY 25.1918.

' Patented J an. 21, 1919.

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zJMmM Woz Ireland abtow m UNITED STATES PATENT QFFTCE.

JOHN IRELAND, 0F EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND.

' SHIP-DAVIE.

Application filed May 25. 1918.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN IRELAND, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Edinburgh, Scotland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ship-Davits, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its purpose to provide a device for launching life boats from vessels, piers, or the like, in which the davits are so mounted that their heads can be, by a rotational movement of the davit, moved inboard or outboard to cause corresponding movements of the boat suspended therefrom, the invention being characterized in one of its aspects by the fact that mechanism is provided by which simultaneous reverse rotational movement may be imparted to each of the two davits of the pair, to eflect result specified.

Furthermore, in order to avoid occupying excessive space on the ships side, it is desirable when the davits are in their inboard or outboard position that they be as nearly opposite the points at which the boat falls therefrom are attached to the boat, that is to say, that the davits should be closer together than the length of the boat. This, however, with the construction of the rotational davits now commonly employed, renders it difiieult to swing the boat outboard. Another aspect of my invention, therefore, consists in so mounting a davit, that it is capable not only of rotational movement to swing the boat, but movement longitudinally of the boat, that is, away from the comnanion davit to increase the limit of the space through which the boat must pass from moving from inboard to outboard position.

By preference, the parts are so constructed that the heads of the davits in moving from an inboard to an outboard osition move in such paths that an outldoard movement of the boat at right angles to the ships side may be effected without causing a lifting or lowering of the boat during such movement.

As stated, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the davits are shown spaced apart a distance less than the length of the boat, and means are provided for increasing the distance between the davits Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

Serial No. 236.564.

when they are rotated, to permit the boat to be launched along a straight path at ri ht angles to the side of the ship, with a minimum amount of power.

In the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invent1on,-

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showmg a portion of a ships side, with my invention attached thereto, the boat being shown in full lines in inboard position, and the position of the davits in mid-position being shown by dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the structure shown 1n Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail of the link mechanism for operating a davit, the same being shown in inboard position;

Fig. 4: is a similar view, the same being shown in mid-position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, the same being shown in outboard position;

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of the davit operating mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the structure shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a section taken approximately on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Figs-9 and 10, are details taken at right angles to each other of the pivot for the lower end of the davit;

Fig. 11 is a section on the line 11-11, of Fig. 6;

Fig. 12 is a section taken on the-line- 12-12 of Fig. 6 showing the pivotal mounting of one of the links;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 of another form of pivotal connection;

Fig. 14 is a section taken on the line 14-44: of Fig. 6;

Fig. 15 is a front elevation of one davit, illustrating a modified form of compensating mechanism;

Fig. 16 is a detail view similar to Fig. 3 of a modified form of guide member.

Each davit consists of a vertically disposed post 20, having a curved upper end or head 21, to which is secured in any suitable manner, the upper ends of the falls 22, of the boat 23. The lower end of each davit has a bearing outboard of the ship below the boat deck, it preferably terminating in a spherically formed portion 24, which is received in the socket 25, of the bracket 26, securedio the side of the ship.

Pivoted at one end to the deck inboard in respect to the davit, by means of the bracket 27 is a link 28, which has a collar 29, formed on the opposite end thereof to engage with the davit. The purpose of the link 28, is to provide means, whereby the davit, upon being rotated from inboard to outboard position, is guided in a longitudinal path along the side of the ship.

On the under side of the link is pivoted a latch member 30 which is designed to engage with a lug 32, fixed to the deck of the ship. The purpose of the latch 30 is to lock the davit when in either inboard or outboard position, as shown by 14 of the drawings. The dotted position of the link illustrated in this view, represents the position of the link when the davit is midway between inboard and outboard position. The latch engages the notched portion of the lug when the davit is in both inboard and outboard positions. and swings clear of the lug when the davit is in other positions.

A lever 34, shown shorter in length than the link 28, and having a collar to snugly fit the davit, is rigidly fixed at an angle to and intermediate of the ends of the davit above the link 28 by means of the set screw 36 or any other suitable means. The lever is fastened to the davit so that it lies in the plane of thedavit asv a whole, its purpose being to impart a rotary movement to the davit when the same is being operated, and it causes the curved end thereof to swing from inboard to outboard position as shown by Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, wherein the curved upper end of the davit is represented by the dotted lines.

Pivoted to the inner end of the lever 34 and to the bracket 37 fixed to the side of the ship between the davit under consideration and the other davit of the same pair, is a link 38 which, with the lever 34, forms a toggle to cause longitudinal movement of the intermediate part of the davit, the con- 7 struction being such that as the davits move from either the extreme inboard or extreme outboard positions, to mid position, their intermediate portions at the level of the boat hung therefrom will separate so that the distance between them will increase to permit the desired movement of the boat outboard or inboard.

The combined length of the lever 34 and link 38 is such that when the davit moved from inboard toward the outboard position, the toggle formed thereby will straig iten out to a line parallel tothe side of the ship when the davit is in, mid position. and the link 28 will act asmeans for retaining the davit in position adjacent the side of the ship. Therefore, during this movement, the

davit with the construction shown, will swing on an are having the pivot point of the lever 28 with the bracket 27 as a center.

As the davit moves from the position shown in Fig, 4 toward the outboard position shown by Fig. 5, the lever 34 and the link 38 buckle outwardly, while the link 28 returns to the same relative position as when the davit was in inboard position.

The path of the upper curved end 21 of the davit with the construction shown is such that, when the davit is in the midway position, it is slightly higher than when the davit is in either the inboard or outboard positions. vertically, the slope ofthe falls 22*, and their length, is preferably so selected, and related, that, when the davits are moved outboard simultaneously, the pathof the boat is a straight line at right angles to the side of the ship, and that the boat, in moving from inboard to outboard position, is not raised or lowered, although the upper ends 21 of the davits rise and lower as shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings, wherein is illus trated by dotted lines, the position. ofthe davits when they are midway between the inboard and outboard position. Thus a compensation is provided whereby the boat in traveling to outboard position moves in a straight horizontal path with a minimum of power.

It is to be understood, thatthe mecha nism above described may be manually op crated by pushing the boat, to swing the same from inboard to outboard position or vice versa, or that any suitable mechanismmay be used to operate the device. The davits may also be operated either individually or jointly.

In the present embodiment of my invention, I have illustrated an arrangement of Such path, both horizontally and;

gearing, as a means for operatingthe davits.

wherein to the pivotal connection of the lever 84 and the link 38 is pivotally mounted the end of ajointed arm 40' having a rack 41, formed on its opposite end.

At one end of the boat and inboard thereto, a pair of standards 42 are secured to the deck of the ship, the jointed arm 40 pa-ssing between the standards and is retained in position by the guides 43 and 44, the guide 43 is mounted somewhat forward of the standards 42 and serves as a support for the arm adjacent its jointed connection, while theguide 44 is carried by one of the standards and comprises a grooved roller carried on a stub shaft 45.

Supported by suitable bearings formed in the upper portions of the standards 42 is a shaft 46 having a crank handle 47 atone end for rotating the pinion 4 8 which meshes with the large gear wheel 49 secured to the shaft 50, one end of which beingretained by suitable bearings 51, formedintegral with the standards 42. 'A pinion 52, which meshes with the rack portion of the jointed arm 40 is fixed to the shaft 50 and is designed toimpart movement to the jointed arm 40, whereby the davit may be rotated.

To the end that the davit at the opposite end of the boat may be operated simultaneously with the first mentioned davit, a jointed arm 53, similar to the jointed arm 40 is pivotally connected to connection between the lever 34 and link 38 thereof, and is mounted in guides similar to the guides 43 and 44 previously described. Standards 54 having suitable bearings, support the opposite end of the shaft 50, which is of sufficient length to extend from one end of the boat, to the other. Carried on the shaft 50 between the standards 54, is a pinion 55 similar to the pinion 52 previously described.

Upon rotation of the shaft 46 by means of the crank 47, the pinion 48, revolves the gear 49, which is carried on the shaft 50, thereby causing the pinions 52 and 55 to actuate the jointed arms 40 and 53, and move them outward to rotate the davits by means of the levers 34 fixedly connected thereto. A spring actuated pawl 56, engages with the pinion 52, and serves as a means for positively locking the device in any desired posltion.

As the levers 34 and the links 28 are subjected to a twisting movement, when the davit is being rotated, I have found it desirable to form their pivot bearings which are carried on the pins 34 and 27 respectively in the form of a bell-mouth 57 as shown by Fig. 12. As an alternate construction, the pivot pins 34 and 27 a may be of the barrel form 58 shown by Fig. 13, and the pivot opening 59 of the lever 34 and the link 28 may be of the usual form. This construction permits the links and levers to twist freely as well as rotate.

In Fig. 15 of the drawings there is shown a modification of my invention wherein the davit is pivotally supported from the side of the ship, by means of the member 61, which consists of a pair of forked arms 62 and 63, having collars 64 and 65 engaged with the davit. The member 61 is pivoted to the side of the ship at 60, substantially at right angles thereto. The lower end of the davit is carried by the arms 63 and is free to rotate within the socket formed in the collar 65 thereof.

In this form of the device, when the davit is rotated from inboard to outboard position the curved upper end of the davit carrying the falls, and the boat, moves in approximately a horizontal plane, while the path of the end 21 of the davit is approximately a straight line at right angles to the side of the ship.

It is to be understood that in either form of the device, the pivotal point of the link 38 in the bracket 37, which is attached to the side of the ship, and the pivotal point 34 of the lever 34 attached to the davit is such that the rotational and longitudinal movements of the head of the davit are so coordinated that it moves approximately in a vertical plane, and in a plane at right angles to the side of the ship, or diverges from this plane, to such extent as may be selected as suitable for the end in view, the divergence being determined by the length and the slope of the falls. Thus the head of the davit may move in a longitudinally curved path indicated by the dotted line a, shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and in the vertically curved path indicated by the dotted line b in Fig. 1, so that the falls 22 of the boat, by assuming a greater or less slope than that shown in Fig. 1, may avoid raising or lowering the boat, when the boat is being moved from inboard to outboard position.

In the preferred form of the invention when the davit is being rotated, the end 21 thereof is always higher than it is when in either the inboard or outboard positions, and, due to the slope of the falls this raising and lowering of the end 21 of the davit is compensated for by its horizontal path which has been preferably described. In the modified form of the device shown in Fig. 16, the end 21 of the davit is designed to move in an approximately horizontal path in traveling from inboard to outboard position, and therefore it is not necessary in this form of the device to have as much slope to the falls 22 as has been shown in Fig. 1, and if desired, the path a may be straightened from that shown.

In lieu of guiding the davit in its longi tudinal movement by means of the link 28, a bracket 66 having an elongated slot 67 in which the davit moves, may be secured to the side of the ship as shown in Fig. 17.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is z- 1. The combination with a pair of davits, each mounted for rotational movement to cause its head to move from inboard to outboard position, and for movement substantially at right angles to such first-named line of movement, of mechanism connecting the two to cause simultaneouss reverse rotational movement thereof, and means for causing the davits to separate on the outboard rotation.

2. The combination with a pair of davits, each davit mounted for rotational move ment to cause the head to move from inboard to outboard position, and for movement substantially at right angles thereto, of mechanism connecting the two to cause simultaneous reverse rotational movement thereof, and means for causing the davits to separate and to return to normal position on rotation.

3. The combination with a pair of davits, a bolt, falls connecting the boat and davits, the davits being each mounted for rotational. movement to swing from inboard to outboard position, and being normally sepa-. than the length of rated by a distance less the boat, and means for simultaneously but reversely rotating the davi-ts to swing the boat outboard and for simultaneously separating them.

a. The combination with a boat, of a davit pivotally mounted below the boat for movement around an approximately vertical axis and around 7 an approximately horizontal axis, to swing the boat outwardly, and falls connecting the davit and boat, the slope and length of the falls and the path described by the head of the davit in its movement around its, pivot being so related that the boatin moving outboard, is caused to move approximately in a plane.

5. The combination with a boat, of a pair of davits, each davit comprising a lower end pivoted to the side of the ship, and an inwardly extending upper end, the distance between the davits being less than the length of the boat, and means for increasing the distance between the davits to permit the passage of the boat when said davits are ro- Copies of patent may be obtained for tate'd to move the boat from inboard: to outboard position;

6. A-devicefor prising on the side of a ship, the upper ends of each of said davits being curved and extending inwardly over the deck of the ship toward each other, and falls connecting said upper curved end with a "life boat, and means for simultaneously rotating each of the davi'ts toward each other whereby the upper curved ends are moved ina vertical are from the inboard to outboard position, and compensating means for causing the life boat to travel in horizontal plane at right angles to the side of the Ship when the same is being launched.

7. The combination with a ships .davit pivoted at its lower end and having means for guiding the davit in apath approximately parallel with the side of the ship, of means for rotatingthe davit from inboard to outboard posit-ion, and means actuated on such rotational movement of the davit to cause it to move in the said path.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name this 17th day of May 1918.

JOHN IRELAND.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. U.

launching a life bloat coma pair of davits pivotally mounted 

